... but suddenly a firm hand gripped his throat tightly. With all his might, he tried to free himself from the choking grip, but in vain. His temples pounded wildly, and his head began to spin on him. With the rest of his strengt,h he tried to shout for help, but the attacker covered his mouth with great force and only a captive cry escaped from his throat into the air. "Keep your mouth shut, and no harm will be done to you," the attacker hissed into his ear in a foreign-accented German. "Absolutely, absolutely," Dr. Baumann choked, nodding in agreement. , And the air flowed back to his health, he decided to take a calculated risk and implored in stylish Yiddish: "Dear honorable, take whatever you desire, just leave me alone for my soul." "Are you a Jew?" The highwayman asked in bewilderment ...